Sox snap skid in Buchholz return from DL

Boston's Brock Holt scores on a David Ortiz RBI single during the third inning of Wednesday's game at Safeco Field. (Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports)

SEATTLE -- The return of starting pitcher Clay Buchholz provided the spark the Boston Red Sox needed on Wednesday night, when they snapped a two-game skid with a 5-4 win over the streaking Seattle Mariners.

Buchholz (3-4) earned his first win since May 2 despite giving up three home runs.

Buchholz was making his first start since May 26, having spent nearly a month on the disabled list with a hyperextended knee.

He needed just 76 pitches to get through 7 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs off seven hits. He struck out two without allowing a walk to end the Mariners' five-game winning streak.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while right fielder Daniel Nava added three singles and an RBI.

The Red Sox (36-43) had lost five of their previous six games.

Seager went 3-for-4 with a solo home run for the Mariners (42-37).

Ortiz gave Boston a 2-0 lead with a two-out homer in the first inning, then Seattle countered with second-inning home runs by Seager and Zunino for a 3-2 lead.

After Nava tied the score with an RBI single, Ortiz struck again with a run-scoring single for a 4-3 Boston lead in the third inning.

Boston added a run in the fifth, when Ortiz grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to score a runner from third.

Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma (5-4) allowed the first three batters of the fifth inning to reach base before coming out of the game. Over four-plus innings, his shortest outing of the season, Iwakuma allowed five runs on eight hits.

Miller's solo shot on the first pitch of the eighth inning pulled the Mariners to within a run, at 5-4, before Boston relievers Andrew Miller and Koji Uehara finished off the victory.

Uehara, who was coming off his first blown save in nearly a year, survived a shaky ninth inning to earn his 16th save of the season. He gave up a one-out single to Seager, then walked Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison on the next at-bat. Uehara then struck out Zunino and got left fielder Dustin Ackley to ground out to first base to end the game.

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NOTES: To clear a roster spot for RHP Clay Buchholz, Boston designated LHP Chris Capuano for assignment. Capuano had a 1-1 record and 4.55 ERA in 28 appearances. LHP Felix Doubront will assume Capuano's role as a situational lefty out of the bullpen. ... Seattle optioned RHP Erasmo Ramirez to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday and recalled RHP Brandon Maurer to fill his spot. Maurer will work out of the bullpen while the Mariners use a four-man rotation until RHP Taijuan Walker is ready to make his Seattle debut, which most likely will be Monday or Tuesday. Thursday's off-day eliminated the need for a fifth starter until next week. Ramirez was 1-4 with a 4.58 ERA but had a 0.90 ERA in his past four starts. ... Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (hamstring) was shut down because of back problems, further delaying his return from the disabled list. ... Mariners OF Michael Saunders, who is on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder problems, took batting practice with the team before Wednesday's game and could be activated in the next day or two.